Lithuania may ban social media for children under 16
The Lithuanian Seimas plans to consider legislative changes that would restrict access to social media for children under the age of 16.
The initiative aims to strengthen the protection of minors in the online environment.
LRT reports on this.
The initiative was proposed by conservative MP Daiva Ulbinaitė. On Thursday, April 9, following the introduction of the initiative, 65 MPs voted in favor, none voted against, and nine abstained.
If the Seimas approves the initiative, children under the age of 16 will be able to use social media only with their parents’ explicit consent.
The MP also proposes requiring social media platforms to implement technical measures that allow for the actual verification of users’ ages. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in administrative liability for the platforms.
According to the proposed bill, a social media service provider that fails to comply with the established age verification obligations will be fined: from 500 to 1,500 euros for the first violation and from 1,500 to 4,000 euros for a repeat violation.
Currently, Lithuania’s Law on the Protection of Minors from the Negative Impact of Public Information primarily regulates the labeling of harmful content and restrictions on its dissemination, but does not clearly establish an age limit for “digital adulthood.”
Greece wants to ban social media for children under 15.
Austria may ban social media for children under 14
